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[Bruce K]

[Fixed]

I would be very interested in hearing about your training methods for cross
Are there practice courses around ?
How do you guys get ready for it. ?
Just wondering
Cheers

[Bruce K]

Here we ride two evenings and one weekend day on cross bikes

Mid-week one night is a mid-speed roll through the woods and paths at a local park. One night is local club practice on a "practice course". Barriers, run-ups, the whole bit. We also practice starts, cornering, and do Madison's (relay race sprints).

The weekend is a little bit of everything while riding 3 to 4 hours in a ramble format

BK

[rockdude]

I am putting on a training session once a week for my team. Its just skills training, barriers, cornering, off cambers, etc. BUT, if you want to be ready for cross you need to be doing really hard efforts for 20m to 30s. Cross is 100% from start to finish and you have to train for it. Threshold is the key to how fast you will go so it should be your base. Cross is on-off-on-off efforts so you need to do work similar to that also. I like sets of 20s on, 20s off for 10m. Or and hour at low threshold with all out burst every 1m-3m.

[Fixed]

Cool , it must really carry over to the road working on all that technique and speed work . sounds like a great way to learn new things and keep riding intresting .i can see why you guys love it
Cheers

[JStonebarger]

Originally Posted by Fixed

...i can see why you guys love it...

Um... don't forget the mud and the beer hand-ups...

[JStonebarger]

Continuing on a mission I developed last year, my partner and I are racing on clinchers this season, and pushing the (lower) limits on tire pressure.

With wider rims (23mm, nothing crazy) and latex tubes we were running 24-32 psi last season without a pinch flat in 20+ races. That and some high tpi tires (Challenge "open") make for a very supple ride. I swore off tubulars before ever falling for 'cross, but so far I haven't looked back.

[djg]

Originally Posted by Fixed

I would be very interested in hearing about your training methods for cross
Are there practice courses around ?
How do you guys get ready for it. ?
Just wondering
Cheers

Fixed, I suspect that most guys do a good deal of their preparation on the road, whether they had a road season or not -- base miles, certainly, some speed work, etc.

Our team has weekly one-hour sessions where we set up a practice course using portable barriers and cones to mark the turns. These tend to start about a month before the first race and continue through the season. We also tend to have a couple of "camp" days pre-season (really, more like half days, but where there's more time to go over basic skills for cross newbies, practice/refresh for everyone, and then do some riding -- both hot laps and some miles). Some guys & gals add various ad hoc things -- dirt & gravel rides, etc.

[mtb_frk]

When every training rides hurts, you know it is almost cross season.

My first training race is next week, I have a lot of work to do get the bike ready. Good thing I put my mini-v brake noodles some place so safe that I have no idea where they are.

[Jawn P]

Still in alpha pretty much, but we at Cyclocross Magazine are putting together an expansive race calendar for the 2012-13 season. Check it out, and if your promote events, make sure to submit them!

[mtechnica]

Currently mid overhaul on the cross bike, going tubular and upgrading everything else.

[Bruce K]

New Cannondale Super-X is in the house. 15.8# in race trim with HED Ardennes LT tubulars.

Zanconato Single Speed crosser is being recabled and dusted off.

Serotta Concours crosser is now the training, ramble, and pit bike.

First race in New England is this weekend. Mine is in 2 weeks.

BK

[BumbleBeeDave]

Originally Posted by Bruce K

New Cannondale Super-X is in the house. 15.8# in race trim with HED Ardennes LT tubulars.

Zanconato Single Speed crosser is being recabled and dusted off.

Serotta Concours crosser is now the training, ramble, and pit bike.

First race in New England is this weekend. Mine is in 2 weeks.

BK

He's loose! Lock up your daughters!

BBD

[holliscx]

Originally Posted by JStonebarger

With wider rims (23mm, nothing crazy) and latex tubes

I may try latex tubes this year on Mavic Open Pro CDs which are 19 mm I believe. I ride Hutchinson Bulldogs not sure their tpi rating but should be able to run pretty low pressure. Embrocation claims clinchers w/ latex tubes can achieve 95% performance of tubs but sounds too good to be true.

[Bruce K]

Not sure about 19mm rims but the 23s can run pretty low pressures with very good performance

BK